Filling machine



E. W. BLEAM May 25, 1937.

FILLING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. a a QMmlgic w 4' ATTORNEY.

y 937. E. w. BLEAM 7 2,081,526

FILLING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 151;ATTORNEY.-

FILLING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q v w Q I dm a A i Z?a w 1 lk I 8 d v 1 I\MQ\\HI\ I I 0 o a $5 O W 8 w a r 0 0 W o fl/ I l aa o m; a 43 a 7 v 3 \l f May 25, 1937. r E. w. BLEAM FILLING MACHINEFiled May 3, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 N RS 4 & S NQNE T I INVENTOR.

BY I

ATTORNEY.

May 25, 1937. E. w. BLEAM FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 5,1954 M km V INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY..

Patented May 25, 1 937 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE Stokes and SmithCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 7 ApplicationMay a, 1934, Serial so. 723,681

8 Claims. (01. 240-55) My invention relates to filling machines and moreparticularly to machines for filling cartons, boxes, containers, or thelike, with a desired weight of more or less finely divided material assugar, salt, cereals, talcum and the like.

In accordance with my invention when the machine is tripped, as by anoperator, or automaticaliy, to initiate the cycle, an accumulated Iequivalent structure, one of which obstructs flow of the material toaccumulate it for the bulk feed occurring when the plate is moved away,

- and the other ,of which partially obstructs the flow, when the firstplate is out of flow-obstructing position, to allow discharge at slowrate until the scale is balanced, wherupon the first plate moves into,and the second plate moves out of, flow-obstructing position; thespacing of the plates along the spouigor path of flow of the material,limiting the amount that may accumulate between successive cycles ofoperation.

My invention also resides in the features of combination, construction,and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for illustration of a preferredform thereof, reference is to be had 'to the accompanying draw-' ings,in which:- I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the weighing and filling machine asviewed from the front;

Fig. 1a diagrammatically illustrates the connections of electricalcontrol apparatus used in the machine. I

Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview, on enlargeds'cale,

' of parts appearing'in Fig. 1, with parts omitted,

and with part of the framework broken away;

Fig. 3 is "a perspective view on enlarged scale, with the cover plateremoved, to show operating mechanism; I

Fig- 4 1s a perspective view, with parts broken away, of the upperportion of the machine; Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the-systemshown in Fig. 6: Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a system utilizingseveral units such as shown in Fig. 1.

.Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 the motor M is secured to thebase I of the machine between the side frames 2 and 3 and continuouslydrives the shaft 4 through suitable means, as belt 5. The driving clutchmember 8, loose on shaft 8a, is driven from shaft 4 through the train ofmechanism including gears 1, 8, Fig. 2, gear 9 mounted on the same shaftIll. as gear 8, Fig.3, gear H which is secured to shaft'i2, sprocket Iton shaft I2, chain i4, and sprocket l5 rotatable with the driving clutchmember 8.

The pawl or driving clutch member i8, mounted upon bracket I! which issecured to shaft Ba,

is normally held out of engagement with the driving clutch member 8 bythe latch i8 pivot-r ally mounted on the side frame 2 and adapted to bereleased by the pedal l9 to which it is connected by the link 20.'

When the pedal is is'momentarlly depressed by the operator of themachina'the pawl it will lock the shaft 6a to the driving clutch memberfor one revolution, the latch l8 at the end of the revolution reengagingthe pawl and opening the clutch.

As appears in Fig. 3, which discloses parts visible when the cover 21for the recessed side frame 2 is removed, to the one-time shaft 8a issecured a cam 22, rotatable in clockwise direction as viewed in thisfigure, and having the position shown when the shaft to is at rest. Whenthe machine is tripped and shaft 6 begins to rotate the cam 22 engagesthe roller 23 secured to the link member 24 to lift it to the positionshown in Fig. 3,'to rock the lever arm 25 secured to one end of a shaft28 passing through the side frame 2, and to whose other end is securedthe lever 21 which is connected by link 28, Fig. 2, to the bell-cranklever 29 secured to the upper extension of the side frame.

A universal Joint 30 between the other arm of the bell-crank lever andthe lever 31 secured to the upper endof a shaft 32 effects clockwiserotation of the shaft, as viewed in this figure, to remove the plate 33obstructing flow of material from the nose 34 of spout 35 at the bottomof hopper 8B. The supporting arms for plates 33 and 31 are adiustablysecured toshaft 32, for example, set screw 38a adiustably fastenssupporting arm 38 of plate 3! to shaft 82, and bolt 33a adjustablyclamps the supporting arm of plate 33 to shaft 32.

'As the plate, is so moved out of flow-obstructing position, the plate31 at the end of arm 38 also securedto shaft 32 swings into the slot 39of the spout 35, to segregate the material accumulated above plate 33from the remainder above plate 31. As thus far described, the swingingout of plate ll and the swinging in of plate 21 effects dumping of apredetermined mass of material into the container.

Preferably and as more clearly appears in Fig. 4, the plate 31 isprovided with an opening 4|! substantially smaller in area than the areaof the spout to allow restricted flow of material from the hopper, sothat the weight of material delivered to the container B can beaccurately controlled.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the cam 22 of the one-time shaft, in liftingthe bar 24, rocks the lever, pivoted thereto to throw in the frictionclutch 42 to effect driving of the shaft 43 from shaft 4. Morespecifically, the gear 44 at the end of shaft 4, Fig. 3, drives the gear45 connected to the driving clutch member 46. The operating collar 41for the clutch is provided with a groove which receives projections ofthe pivoted yoke member 4| between which and the end of lever 4| is aresilient link system comprising the rod 48 pivoted to the end of theyoke arm 48 and extending through an opening in the bracket 50 pivotedto arm 4|. The spring BI is compressed when arm 4| is rocked, therebycushioning the transmission of the clutch-closing force.

The clutch 42 is locked in running position by the spring-pressed pawl82 pivoted on arm 4| and hooking over the abutment 52A, secured to shaft58 to which is also secured the member 54 normally restrained frommovement by the solehold-operated latch SI.

The movement of lever 4| to the aforesaid latched position also effectsmovement of the contact member 60 into engagement with the stationaryswitch contacts ii! (Figs. 1a and 3).

As shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 42 driven through clutch 42 extends to thetop of the machine and terminates within the gear box 56. The gear 51,at the end of the shaft 43, meshes with gear 58 which drives the gear 58secured to the upper end of the shaft ll tothe lower end of which issecured the holder 8| for feed auger Bio. The

' gear 02 movable in unison with the gear drives the gear" secured tothe upper end of the hollow shaft 84 to the lower end of which issecured the agitating member 65 disposed above the auger for the purposeof insuring free flow of the material by preventing it from packing.

When a predetermined weight of material is transferred to the carton B,the solenoid 66 is energized, as hereinafter more-fully described, totrip the latch 55 so that the spring 61, in tension between arm 4| andmember 2a. secured to the frame of the machine, effects disengagement ofthe clutch 42, and pulls the bar 24 downwardly to restore the engagementbetween the roller 23 and cam 22, which, in the meantime, has returnedto the position shown in Fig. 3, to return the plate I! to the positionblocking the discharge from the spout l4 and to remove plate 31. Theopening of the clutch stops the agitator and auger. and the removal ofplate 21 permits material to flow from the hopper 36 into the spout, nowclosed by plate 32, to fill the space between the paths of movement ofthe two plates 33 and 31. The counterclockwise movement of the lever 4|also breaks the solenoid circuit by withdrawing the bridging contactmember I from between the contacts I (Figs. 1a and 3).

The latch 52 and the abutment 52A are so disposed and arranged that whenthe member 54 is released by cnergization of the solenoid, the latch I2,in its downward movement, rocks and slides out of engagement with theabutment 52A which immediately, due to the torsion spring ll, returnsthe member 64 to the position shown, so that when the solenoid isdeenergized, the parts again assume the position shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in' Fig. 1, the carton B is positioned below the dischargespout of the hopper I8 upon the plate 1| supported by the rod 12 whichpasses through the table 13 of the machine upwardly from the crossmember 14 positioned between the end of the scale arms 15 pivoted at 18to the sup porting bracket 'Ila. Between the other ends of the arms 15is positioned the cross member 11 which carries the weight-pan 'll ofthe scales. The bar 19 extending downwardly from the crossmember I!carries the counterweight and from bar 18 extends a short lateral pinnormally holding switch I! open.

Except when the material is being fed by the auger at slow rate throughthe opening 40 in the upper plate 31, the scale is held locked againstmovement by the arm 8| which is biased by spring 82 to clamp the pin IIadjustably secured to the rod 19 against the adjustable stop 84.

The cam 85 on the one-time shaft 60 during its rotation releases link 88(Figs. 1 and 2) which is connected to the arm 81 secured to the shaft 88to which the scale-locking lever 8| is fastened. so that substantiallyconcurrently with initiation of the slow feed of the material, the scaleis unlocked. When the scale balances, the switch 89 is operated toenergize the solenoid circuit, as above described." Thereupon themembers of clutch 42 are separated and the solenoid circuit interruptedby separation of switch contacts 58, 89, 89 as above described.

Briefly, when the operator depresses pedal I! to initiate the cycle, theplate 33 swings away from the bottom of spout 35 to allow theaccumulated material to drop into the carton B. As indicated, the nose34 of the spout and the distance between plates 23 and 31 along thespout are adjustable, so that this amount, which will vunavoidably varyvto some extent, falls in bulk and is not separatelyweighed, but isadjusted to be somewhat less than the desired weight; if too small, thetime required for the slow or dribble feed is necessarily long, while,if it is made to be too near the exact weight, it is possible thatsometimes more than the proper amount will be discharged. Underpractical operating conditions, it is a simple matter to adjust theeffective length of the spout between plates 23 and I1 to obtain rapidfilling, as about 30 cartons per minute, with very high accuracy ofweighing. To decrease the bulk feed, bolt "a (Fig. 4) is loosened andnose 34 pushed up farther into spout 35; conversely, to increase thebulk feed,

' the nose 34 is pulled downwardly to suitable extent. The volume of thespout between plates 13 and 31 can be'varied in other ways. Thearrangement disclosed is satisfactory as affording a simple andconvenient means for varying the bulk discharge.

Concurrently with beginning of the auger or slow feed, the scale isunlocked so that, when the scale is balanced, the plate 22 swings ininof plate 82 cannot be excessive, as plate 21 concurrently swings in tosegregate the material in the spout from the remainder.

As appears from Fig. 1, the only part of the scale above the table 13 isthe scale pan or plate Ii readily accessible to the operator; .theremainder of the scale mechanism is below the table 13 and thereforeprotected from falling material; the weight pan 18, however, is at thefront of .the machine and readily accessible to the operator. Theclutch-tripping pedal I9 is also at the front of themachine convenientlyaccessible to the operator.

In the system shown in Figs. 5 and 6, four filling units, essentially asdescribed, are utilized with conveyors and transfer mechanism to providefull automatic operation. The endless conveyor C feeds empty cartons Bto a positon between units No. 1 and No. 2. When the trigger or feeleris engaged by the leading carton, it operates latch 91 of the onetime-clutch 92, which is similar in construction to the clutchcomprising elements 5 and i5 of Fig. 2, to effect one revolution ofshaft 93. The driving element 94 of the clutch is driven from thecontinuously operating shaft 12 of the double unit.. The shaft iscoupled to shaft 93 as by. sprockets 95, 9?

and chain 98 to rotate one-half a revolution for each revolution ofshaft-93.

The cam 99 on shaft 95 is provided with a groove Hill which swings anarm carrying the transfer bar Nil from the full-line position to thedotted line position of Fig. 5, pushing on the scale plate Ila of unitNo. 1 onto conveyor Cl, one filled carton and one empty carton, and

pushing two empty cartons onto this plate Ila from conveyor (3. Thestructure for operating bar ill! from cam 99 is similar to thatdisclosed for operating bars "HA and NB from cam 99A.

During the half-revolution of shaft 95, the high point of cam Hi2operatesbar 20A, having the same function as link 20 shown in Fig. 2 ofthe single unit, to trip unit No. 2 to fill one of the cartonspreviously transferred to its scale plate Ila, The filling and weighingis effected automatically as described in connection with the singleunit.

When the next carton on conveyor C actuates the trigger 90, shaft 95makes another half rev-.

olution. Cam 99 thereon restores transfer arm lfll to the full lineposition of Fig. 5 and in doing so pushes off plate Ha of unit No. 2onto conveyor C2, one empty carton and the carton just filled, andpushes from conveyor C onto this plate two more empty cartons. Anothercam, similar to I02, trips unit No. 1 to effect a weighing and fillingoperation.

4 Briefly, the cartons on conveyor C are fed in groups of two,alternately, to units No. 1 and 2, and are delivered from each unit ingroups of two, one filled to exact weight and the other empty, toconveyors Cl and C2. By changing the .positions or dimensions of barIll! and trigger 99, it is, of course, possible to feed only one cartonfor each reciprocation of bar lili in which event all cartons deliveredto conveyors Cl, C2 are filled.

In the system specifically shown, however, the cartons are fed in groupsof two by conveyors Cl and C2 adjacent to the units Nos. 3 and 4,respectively.

When a carton on conveyor Cl engages the trigger 90A, it releases latchMA to allow 'engagement of the members of clutch 94A to effect onerevolution of shaft 93A, and one-half revolution of shaft 95A driventhereby through sprockets 96A, 91A and chain 99A. The coin 99A providedwith a groove I09 swings the arms 103 which support the transfer memberllliB so that the two filled cartons on the scale plate of unit No. 3are pushed onto conveyor C9 by the two cartons being pushed fromconveyor Cl onto the scale plate, one of which is filled, and the otherof which is empty, and moved below the fillingv spout of unit No. 3. Asshown, the cam follower H9 which engages the groove of cam 99A'iscarried by the bar Ill pivotally carried by the arms H2, H2 secured tothe lower ends of shafts H3 to which the arms 103 are secured. V

For the same half/ revolution of shaft 95A, the cam 102A trips unit No.4 for filling of the empty one of the two cartons on its'scale plateHo.-

The swinging of arms 193 also. moves the stop member I05A out of thepath of cartons on the conveyor C2 so that shortly after unit No. 4completes its cycle, cartons on conveyor C2 engage the trigger 9013 toeffect another half revolution of control shaft 95A during which cam 99Aopcrates bar "MA to push the two filled cartons from plate I la of unitNo. 4 onto conveyor C3 and to push two more cartons from conveyor C2onto the scale plate of unit No. 4, and moves stop H353 to permitmovement of cartons on conveyor Cl toward trigger 90A. During the samehalf revolution of shaft 95A, the cam 192B effects 'tripping of unit No.3 for its cycle of weighing and filling.

Therefore, for each tripping of latch 9iA, two filled cartonsare-delivered to conveyor C3, and

two cartons, one to be filled, are delivered either from conveyor Ci orC2 to its associated'filling unit. a

When the units are thus ganged for multiple operation, they should beadjusted so that the It is to be understood that my invention isweighing operation of each is completed within not limited to theapparatus specifically illustrated, but is coeirtensive wlththe appendedclaims.

What I claim isr 1. A filling machine comprising means providing a pathfor discharge of material, structure movable to block said path, secondstructure movable partially to obstruct said path, a scale forsupporting a container to receive the discharged material, a one-timeclutch, mechanism operated whensaid clutch is tripped to effect movementof said first structure from blocking position and of said secondstructure to its partial obstructing position to allow first rapid andthen slow discharge of material to said container, and means responsiveto balance of said scale to return said structures to their previouspositions.

2. A filling machine comprising means providing a path for discharge ofmaterial, structure movable to block said path, second structure movablepartially to obstruct said path, a'scale for supporting a container toreceive the discharged materlal, means for locking said scale, aone-time clutch, mechanism operated when said clutch is tripped toeffect movement, of said first structure from blocking position andofsaid second structure to its partial obstructing position to allow firstrapid and then slow discharge said clutch to efiect release or saidscale-locking means during slow discharge of the material,

means responsive to balance of said scale to return said structures totheir previous positions, and means controlled by said clutch to efiectrelocking oi! the scale by said scale-locking means.

3. A filling machine comprising a discharge conduit, movable structurefor obstructing said' conduit to prevent discharge 0! material therefrom, a second structure movable to obstruct said conduit at a regionmore remote from the discharge end of said conduit than said firststructure, means for biasing said first structure to obstructingposition and said second structure to non-obstructing position, latchingmeans for restraining said biasing means, and mechanism having a cycleoi operation for moving said first structure from obstructing positionand said second structure to obstructing position to permit discharge ofa predetermined volume of material from said conduit and setting saidlatching means, and subsequently in said cycle, tripping sai latchingmeans.

4. A filling machine comprising a discharge conduit, flow-obstructingstructure rotatable in a plane intercepting said conduit to preventdischarge of material therefrom, a second flowobstructing structurerotatable in a plane intercepting said conduit at a region more remotefrom the discharge end of said conduit than said first structure, meansfor biasing said first structure to flow-obstructing position and saidsecond structure to non-obstructing position, latching means for.restraining said biasing means, and mechanism having a cycle ofoperation for moving said first structure from obstructing position andsaid second structure to obstructing position to permit discharge of apredetermined volume of material and setting said latching means, and,subsequently -in said cycle, tripping said latching means.

5 A filling machine comprising a discharge conduit, a shaft rotatableabout an axis substantially parallel to said conduit, flow-obstructingstructures axially spaced along said shaft and in predetermined angularrelation. and means for moving said shaft in opposite directionsalternately to move one of said structures to its flowobstructingposition and the'other of said structures away from its flow-obstructingposition comprising means ior biasing said shaft for movement in onedirection, latching means ior restraining movement in said onedirection. and

mechanism, having a cycle of operation to effect movement of said shaftin reverse direction, for setting of said latching means and,subsequently in said cycle, to efi'ect tripping oi. ,said latchingmeans.

6. A filling machine comprising a discharge conduit, structure movableto block said conduit, 9. second structure movable partially to obstructsaid conduit in advance of said first structure, a feed auger in advanceof said second structure, a scale for receiving material from saidconduit, a one-time clutch, mechanism operated when said clutch istripped to effect operation of said iced auger, movement or said firststructure from blocking position, and movement of said Second structureto its partially obstructing position, and means responsive to balanceoi said scale within the cycle of said clutch to discontinue operationof said feed auger and to effect movement of'said first structure to itsblocking position and movement of said second structure irom its partialblocking position.

7. A filling machine comprising a discharge conduit, structure movableto block said conduit. a second structure movable partially to obstructsaid conduit in advance of said first structure, agitating means inadvance of said second structure, a scale for receiving material fromsaid conduit, a one-time clutch, mechanism operated when said clutch istripped to effect operation of said agitating means, movement of saidfirst structure from blocking position, and movement of said secondstructure to its partially obstructing position, and means responsive,after tripping of said clutch, to balance of said Scale to discontinueoperation of said agitating means and to efiect movement of said firststructure to its biockingposition and movement of said second structurefrom its partial blocking position.

ii. A filling machine comprising a table, a scale having a receptacleabove said table and its weight pan below said table in position to beaccessibleto the operator of the machine, a feedhopper above said table,structure movable to control discharge from said hopper to saidreceptacle, mechanism including a one-time clutch for eifecting movementof said structure to permit discharge to said receptacle, and disposedbelow said table, means responsive to balance of said scale during thecycle of said clutch to effect movement of said structure to cut offdischarge to said receptacle, and means accessible to the operator toeffect tripping of said clutch.

EDGAR W. BLEAM.

